Holder for both flat bottom and conical paper cups



H. HILL Jan. 19, 1954 HOLDER FOR BOTH FLAT BOTTOM AND CONICAL PAPER CUPS Filed June 6, 1950 Patented Jan. 19, 1954 HOLDER FOR BOTH FLAT BOTTOM AND CONICAL PAPER ours Howard Hill, Easton, Pa., assignor to Dixie Cup Company, Easton, Pa., a

ware

corporation of Dela- Application June 6, 1950, Serial No. 166,354

.1 This invention relates-to improvements in a holder for both fiat bottom and conicalpaper cups, the holder being highly desirable in a small size for dispensing sample drinks in paper cups, and for use in a larger size at soda fountains and similar places where drinks are dispensed commercially, although the invention will have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

'Heretofore, it has been the custom to provide one form of holder for flat bottom paper cups, and another form of holder for conical paper cups. Difl'iculty, inconvenience, aggravations and embarrassment have sometimes resulted, however, Where there was an insufficiency or lack of the proper holders to fit the available cups. This has resulted and can result for numerous reasons, such as an unexpected number of customers for a particular type of drink, and

where through error paper cups have beenordered of the wrong type for the available holders. Frequently, too, it is desirable to use both conical and flat bottom paper cups from the same location, and it is uneconomical to maintain a supply of both types of holders, both from the standpoint of monetary investment, and from the standpoint of the space required when the holders are not in use. a

It is desirable, therefore, to have a'holder capable of properly'receiving either a flat bottom or a conical paper cup, and the provision of such a holder is one of the prime desiderata of this invention.

It is also an Object of this invention to provide a holder for both flat bottom and conical paper cups, the holder being of the single end type, and having a single cup receiving cavity into which a cup of either type may be positioned.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a holder having a single cup receiving cavity, such cavity being so shaped as to receive either a flat bottom or a conical paper cup and establish positive contact at at least two separate locations, namely adjacent the mouth of the holder, and adjacent the bottom or apex of the cup, so that either form of cup is steadily and securely seated in the holder.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a holder for a paper cup having an insulating dead air space between the cup and holder when the cup is seated in the holder.

Still a further feature of this invention resides in the provision of a holder having a cup receivingcavity therein having a downwardly and 2 Claims. (CI. 65-61) inwardly sloping bottom for the cavity, with an opening entirely through the bottom, whereby the'apical portion of a conical paper cup may project through the opening, while the rim at the base of afiat bottom cup may seat securely at the outer annular edge or margin of the bot' tom.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1' is a pictorial elevational view of a holder for paper cups embodying principles of the instant invention, and indicating in dotted lines the positioning of a conical the holder;

Figure 2 is a central, vertical sectional View through the holder of Fig. 1, showing a conical paper cup in elevation properly positioned within the holder; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view ofthe holder of the same character as Fig. 2, showing a flat bottom cup in elevation properly positioned within the holder.

As shown on the drawings:

The instant invention may be made of any suitable material, either metal or plastic, and for illustrative purposes a holder molded in one piece from a suitable thermosetting plastic has been selected.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a slightly tapering body portion I having a reinforcing head or rim 2 around the open mouth thereof, and defining interiorly a cup receiving cavity 3. Due to the tapering character of the body wall, the cup receiving cavity gradually decreases in diameter toward the bottom thereof.

Below the body portion l is a base portion 4,

also preferably tubular in character, and which may be cylindrical, as illustrated, or any other desired configuration, the holder seating upon the bottom edge of the base 4.

Inside the base 4 a bottom or flange 5 is provided for the cup receiving cavity 3. This bottom is preferably inwardly and downwardly sloping, and tubular in character to provide a central opening 6 therethrough. It will be noted that the opening 6 tapers materially, being considerably larger at the top end than at the bot tom end. On the upper side thereof, the bottom extends inwardly a'slight distance before breaking into the opening 6 to provide an annupaper cup in 3 lar seat or shoulder I, clearly seen in Fig. 2, for engagement by a flat bottom cup.

In Fig. 2, I have indicated a conical paper cup 8 seated in the holder. It will be noted that the apical portion 9 of the cup projects through the opening 6 in the bottom of the cup receiving cavity, and thisz apical portion of the :cup also. establishes positive contact with the walls define ing the opening 6 in at leastone location therealong. At the same time, it will be noted that the mouth of the holder establishes positive contact with the body portion of" the cup,. so with at least these two points of contact the cup is stably held in the holder.

As will be noted from the showing Fig. 2 the apical portion 9 of the cup effects a seal inside the opening 6 and similarly efiects. a seal at the mouth end of the holder. Thus a dead air space is provided between the holder and cup which is insulating in character and prolongs the cooling time of. ebotsubstance. placed in. the cup. InEig. 3. I. have illustrated a. t bo m pap cup i opo itioned inthe. h lder, and in this. case. it, will be noted that theannular edge or rim II at the b ttom of the cup seat firmly on the aforesaid interior annular Shoulder l of the hold: er. Here, again, there is positive contact tween the holder and thev bottom edge of the cup, andthere-isalso. contact with the wall of l the c p atv the mouth of the holder. However, as show-n in Fig.3., if the holder is given the same degree OI slope ortap r as the. fiat bottom paper cup, there will be contact throu hout: the, length of the: cavity wall. In, any event, the flat bottom cup isalso stablyv held within the. holder.

From thehforegoing, i i ppar nt that I av provided anextremely economical form of; holder for paper cups, the single holder accommodatin both. flat bottom and, conical Paper r in thesame cup. r c iving c vity, and requiringnoudifierentloperation. on the part. of the operator toinsert either form of cup in, the holder. The. cup. receiving cavity and the bottom thereof are. shaped so. as to establish firm engagement with either form oi. cup, at. at. least two locations, and stably hold either form of cupin the holder. It should also be. noted that the, illusrated. h lder. osts no. more to manufacture than a holder capable. 01. receiving only one form of cups Fur her. the. holder is long lived, easy to handle, andpleasing in app arance.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be. effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a single cup holder designed to intimately accommodate both fiat bottom and conical paper cups, a tubular body portion having an open 'mouth and the inner. wall of which tapers in keeping with the side wall of a flat bottom paper cup, and an inwardly and downwardly tapered tubular flange extending from the bottom. of said body portion and forming an annular shoulder to seat a fiat bottom cup at the junction line with said body portion, the inner wall of said flange. being located and proportioned with respect tov the mouth of said body portion as to intimately engage the apical region of a conical paper cupcontacting said mouth.

2. In a single cup holder designed to intimately accommodate both fiat bottom and conical paper cups, a tubular body portion having an openmouth and; the. inner wall of which tapers in hes-ping. withv the sidewall of a, fiat bottom paper cup, an inwa ly nd d w y ap e tubular flange extending from the bottom of said body portion andforming an annular shoulder to seat a flat bottom cup at. the junction line with aid body portion, the inner- Wall of. said flange. being;- located and proportioned with re.- spect to the mouth of said body portion as to intimately engage the apical region of a. conical paper cu contacting said mouth, and. a support.- ingbase for said body portion around said tubue lar flange.

HOWARD HILL.

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